An apparatus includes a flexible electrically-insulating substrate including an inner surface and an outer surface. The substrate is shaped to define multiple channels passing between the inner surface and the outer surface, at least some of the channels being concave channels. The apparatus further includes an outer layer of an electrically-conducting metal covering at least part of the outer surface, an inner layer of the electrically-conducting metal covering at least part of the inner surface, and respective columns of the electrically-conducting metal that fill the channels such as to connect the outer layer to the inner layer.

According to some embodiments, a medical instrument (for example, an ablation device) comprises an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, an energy delivery member positioned at the distal end of the elongate body, a first plurality of temperature-measurement devices carried by or positioned within the energy delivery member, the first plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member, and a second plurality of temperature-measurement devices positioned proximal to a proximal end of the energy delivery member, the second plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member.

There are many devices that are used to deliver electromagnetic energy to biological tissues. However, physical properties of current techniques limit the strength and efficacy of the applied field. This invention introduces a new apparatus for the application of evanescent waves into biological tissue. The apparatus is planar, conformal, and electrically insulated and is comprised of two or more conductive regions spatially separated by a non-conductive gap insulated by low-dielectric constant, non-conductive material. The apparatus is powered by one or more RF/voltage sources that can be applied to individual or several conductive regions to create voltage differentials that generate evanescent waves. The apparatus can be used for treating cancer tumors, deep brain stimulation, and other therapeutic purposes.

An ablation catheter including an elongate shaft, an inflatable balloon positioned at a distal region of the elongate shaft, a first ablation electrode disposed outside of and carried by an outer surface of the inflatable balloon, a first ultrasound transducer disposed outside of the inflatable balloon, and a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit includes a first conductor and a second conductor and is disposed outside of and carried by the outer surface of the inflatable balloon. The first conductor is in electrical communication with the first ablation electrode, and the second conductor in electrical communication with the first ultrasound transducer.

A device for cooling the skin tissue of a patient during a procedure using energy includes a mat-like structure, the mat-like structure having a bottom wall, a top wall and upstanding walls connecting the top wall and the bottom wall, the walls defining an enclosed volume; it also includes one or more electrodes positioned to protrude from the bottom wall and extend through the volume for connection to a source of energy; further, the volume defines a space for holding a cooling substance for cooling the one or more electrodes and the skin tissue during an energy-based procedure.

An improved gastric tube for displacing a section of an esophagus during cardiac ablation procedures is disclosed. The improved gastric tube is an elongated flexible tube designed to be inserted in the esophagus of a patient and extended past the portion of the esophagus which overlies the heart. The improved gastric tube includes a first lumen extending the length of the tube which receives a control wire, plastic stylet, or other apparatus which would function for displacement of the portion of the esophagus overlying the heart. A second lumen is included which extends to the operative section of the gastric tube, where the esophagus overlies the heart, so that contrast liquid or cooling liquid can be injected into the esophagus at that location. A temperature sensor can also be included to measure the temperature of the esophageal wall, as well as electrodes to connect to a three-dimensional mapping system.

Systems and methods deploy an electrode structure in contact with the tissue region. The electrode structure carries a sensor at a known location on the electrode structure to monitor an operating condition. The systems and methods provide an interface, which generate an idealized image of the electrode structure and an indicator image to represent the monitored operating condition in a spatial position on the idealized image corresponding to the location of the sensor on the electrode structure. The interface displays a view image comprising the idealized image and indicator image. The systems and methods cause the electrode structure to apply energy to heat the tissue region while the view image is displayed on the display screen.

Tumor treating fields (TTFields) can be delivered by implanting a plurality of sets of implantable electrode elements within a person’s body. Temperature sensors positioned to measure the temperature at the electrode elements are also implanted, along with a circuit that collects temperature measurements from the temperature sensors. In some embodiments, an AC voltage generator configured to apply an AC voltage across the plurality of sets of electrode elements is also implanted within the person’s body.

An apparatus includes a catheter shaft assembly and an end effector. The end effector includes a first flex circuit assembly, which includes a base member extending distally from the distal end of the catheter shaft assembly. The first flex circuit assembly further includes a plurality of obliquely extending members extending obliquely from the base member. The obliquely extending members are configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration. The obliquely extending members are configured to fit within an outer sheath in the first configuration. The obliquely extending members are configured to expand outwardly away from the longitudinal axis in the second configuration when exposed distally relative to the distal end of the outer sheath. The first flex circuit assembly further includes a plurality of electrodes positioned on at least some of the obliquely extending members, the electrodes being positioned to contact tissue or blood.

Systems, methods, and devices allow percutaneous mapping, orientation and/or ablation in bodily cavities or lumens. Such may include a structure that is percutaneously positionable in a cavity, such as an intra-cardiac cavity of a heart. Transducers carried by the structure are responsive to blood flow. For example, the transducers may sense temperature, temperature being related to convective cooling caused by blood flow. A controller discerns positional information or location, based on signals from the transducers. For example, blood flow may be greater and/or faster proximate a port in cardiac tissue than proximate tissue spaced from the port. Position information may allow precise ablation of selected tissue, for example tissue surround a port in the intra-cardiac cavity.